WE HAVE MADE OUR CHOICE IN ODODO – SOUTHERNERS IN KOGI
By Our Correspondent, Lokoja
Southerners resident in Kogi State have declared their total support for Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo ahead of the 2027 governorship election, saying “the Kogi State Governorship is already taken.”
The position was made known after an enlarged meeting of leaders from Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States held at the NUJ Press Centre in Lokoja. The gathering, which brought together community heads, youth leaders, women leaders and business owners, was convened to review the place of Southerners in Kogi politics and to take a stand ahead of 2027.
Speaking to journalists at the end of the meeting, which coincided with a program to mark the 35 years of the creation of Kogi State, the Spokesperson of the Forum at the meeting, Kingsley Oshilim, said the decision was reached after careful consideration of all administrations since the creation of the state in 1991.
According to him, the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo remains the first to genuinely recognize and honour Southerners with opportunities for appointments, empowerment and inclusion in governance. He noted that for the first time, members of the Southern community are seeing themselves reflected in the policies and programs of the state government.
“We have lived in Kogi for decades, doing our businesses, raising our families and contributing to the growth of this state,” Oshilim said. “But it is under Governor Ododo that we have felt a true sense of belonging. That is why we are saying it early and clearly: our choice in 2027 is Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, and our choice at the national level remains President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.”
The group also commended the Ododo-led administration for its effort in securing lives and property across the state. They said the improved security architecture has enabled them to carry out their trading, farming and other businesses without let or hindrance, a development they described as commendable and unprecedented.
On the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, the Southerners expressed confidence that the ongoing economic reforms are already yielding positive impact, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture and youth empowerment. They pledged to mobilize their members across the 21 local government areas of Kogi to ensure overwhelming support for both the President and the Governor in the next round of elections.
Oshilim urged the people of Kogi State to sustain their support for the Ododo administration, describing the Governor as a leader who has shown capacity, humility and vision to take the state to the promised land. He added that Southerners will continue to partner with the government to promote peace, unity and development in Kogi.
“Our message is simple,” he concluded. “We have made our choice. We are with Ododo. We are with Tinubu. And we are calling on all Southerners in Kogi to come together and work for the continued progress of this state.”
The meeting ended with prayers for the Governor, the President and for continued peace in Kogi State.
